The Observer – TOY – Shafiq Nordin

Shafiq Nordin
45(H) x 26 (W) x 34cm(D)
Acrylic & Industrial Paint on Vinyl Sculpture
2025
"Katak bawah tempurung" (the frog under the coconut shell) is Shafiq satirical take on the innocence, or rather the ignorance, that often shapes the lives of the middle and lower layers of society. Hidden beneath their own small worlds, many are unaware of the real forces shaping global crises like the ruthless trade war, rising tariffs, and economic conflicts between giants such as the United States and China. In this artwork, the dollar sign and the Chinese RMB are positioned in direct confrontation, staring eye to eye as symbols of power, greed, and rivalry. It reflects the tension between two economic giants, with ordinary people caught silently in between.
The figures, with giant burden-like forms weighing down on their backs, symbolize the heavy, colorful yet toxic load that society is forced to carry. These burdens, painted with bright yet chaotic patterns, represent how global conflicts and economic greed are dressed up as progress but, in truth, crush the spirit of the common people.
The frog, with its giant eye stretched wide open, captures that moment of overwhelming realization, a sudden, almost naive shock at the world’s true nature.